Compare towns
Dedham vs Hadley vs Northampton vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dedham | Hadley | Northampton | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
5,306 |
30,962Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,439±$75 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dedham | Hadley | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Hopkins Academy | Northampton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
7.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.